Well-drill-pipe float coupling



June 7 1927. 1,631,509

R. c. BAKER WELL DRILL PIPE FLOAI COUPLING Filed Dec. 1. 1926 INVENTOR. W Ea/kw ATTORNEYS.

' which is fitte Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN C. BAKER, OF COALINGA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO BAKER CASING S HOE I COMFANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

WELL-DRILL-PIFE FLOAT COUPLING.

Application filed becember l, 1928. Serial 170.. 151,862.

This ap lication is a continuation ofa rior app ication entitled Well dllll pipe oat coupling, Ser. No. 1,942, filed January The present invention relates to an 1mproved drill pipe float coupling and contemplates the rovision of a float coupling d with a back pressure valve mechanism rmitting the string wherein it is interposed to be floated into place in a well to relieve derrick strains. This valve mechanism is constructed to permit free passage of circulating fluid through the string and eliminates the danger of plugging the water course in the event that the valve member proper should accidentally become detached from its associate mechanism.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

The figure is a view in vertical section through a well drill coupling embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the accompan ing drawings, 10 indicates a cylindrical dril pi e coupling used when drilling wells to coup e the contiguous ends of drill pipe sections. Thecoup ing 10 is hollow so that circulating fluid may be passed therethrough to the drill. At its upper end the couplin is interiorly threaded to receive the threade end of a drill ..pipe section 12. At its lower end the couplin is reduced in diameter and exteriorly thre ed so that it may be threadedl connected with the adjacentend of a dri pi e section 14.-

It wi be noticed that at the reduced lower end of the coupling, the chamber is also reduced in diameter to form an interiorly projecting annular shoulder 15.

Intermediate the ends of the coupling a threaded bore 16' is formed which is less in diameter than the chamber extending inwardly from the female end of the coupling. At the lower end of the bore an interior y pro'ecting annular shoulder 17 is formed.

he threaded bore 16 is adapted to receive a valve cage 18 which is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve having a valve seat 19 formed at its lower end and a bridge 20 at the string. This is due to the extends upwardly through a guide opening 0 in the bridge 20. This latter"1s a narrow flat member extending diametrically between the side wall of the cage, as illustrated.

The valve stem 23 projects a considerable distance above the bridge and is fitted with 65.

a nut 24 at its upper end. A compression spr1ng 25 1s interposed between this nut and thet larldge to normally maintain the valve sea e To eliminate unnecessary wear of the spring 25, a hollow sleeve 26 is loosely arranged over it on the stem. This sleeve 26 rests on the bridge and projects u wardly short of the nut 24. The distance hetween the nut-and the upper end of the sleeve 26 represents the amount which the valve may open as the nut will abut against the sleeve upon the opening of the valve and limit the opening thereof.

If by chance the valve 21 should become so detached from the stem or should the bridge or stem be broken, the valve will not plug provision of a pluralit of downwardly pro ecting lugs 27 forme .on the bottom of the valve 21 s5 and spaced apart adjacent its peri hery. These ugs 27 will rest on the shoul er 15 in the coupling and prevent the valve from seating on top of the shoulder and plugging the water course. The downwardly pro ectin boss 22 on the valve acts to prevent the va ve from inverting.

In operation of the device, the coupling is constructed and fitted with the valve mechanism as described. In running in the strin the valves will close and permit it to be oated into position. Exhaustive tests have proven that this will double the life of the wire lines and brake bands and relieve excessive strains on other derrick 10o equi ment.

en positioned, circulating fluid may be pumped downwardly through the string. The pressure of the fluid will open the valve.

.The present device will permit perfect circulation at all times due to the unobstructed valve cage and enlarged chamber below the of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art wlthout departing from the spirit of the invention,

' shoulder to as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my inventlon, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A drill pipe float coupling comprising a cylindrical coupling adapted to connect aligned sections of drill pipe, said coupling having a central chamber formed longitudinally therethrough, said chamber being reduced in diameter-at one end of the-coupling forming an annular shoulder Within the coupling, a valve cage detachably secured-with in the chamber of the coupling, said valve cage havin a valve seat, a valve guided by said cage or cooperation with the seat to control the passage of fluid through the coupling, said valve opening toward the reduced end of the chamber, and means on the valve adapted to engage with said shoulder to prevent the valve from interrupting the flow of liquid through the coupling in the event that the valve should become disengaged from the valve cage. v

2. A drill pipe float coupling comprising a cylindrical coupling adapted to connect aligned sections of drill pipe, said coupling having a. central chamber extending longitudinally therethrough, said chamber being reduced in diameter at one end of the coupling forming an annular shoulder within the coupling, a valve cage threaded within the chamber of the coupling intermediate its ends, a valve seat formed at one end of said cage, a valve guided in said valve cage for cooperation with said seat to control the passage of fluid through the coupling, said valve opening toward the reduced end of the chamber in the coupling, spaced lugs on said valve adapted to engage with said annular pling in the event that the valve should become disengaged from the valve cage.

revent the valve from inter- 3. A drill pipe float coupling comprising a cylindrical coupling adapted to connect aligned sections of drill pipe, said coupling having a central chamber formed longitudinally therethrough, said chamber being reduced in diameter at one end of the coupling forming an annular shoulder within the coupling, a valve cage detachably secured within the chamber of the coupling, said valve cage having a valveseat, a valve guided by said cage for cooperation with the seat to control the passage of fluid through the coupling, said valve opening toward the reduced end of the chamber, and means on the valve adapted to engage with said shoulder to prevent the valve from interrupting the flow of liquid through "the coupling in the event that the valve should become disengaged from the valve cage, means for preventing the valve from inverting within the chamber. 1

4. A drill pipe float coupling comprising a cylindrical coupling adapted to connect aligned sections of drill pipe, said coupling having a central chamber extending longitudinally therethrough, said chamber being reduced in diameter at; one end of the coupling forming an annular shoulder within the coupling, a valve cage threaded within the chamber of the coupling intermediate its 7 ends, a valve seat formed at one end of said cage, a valve guided in said valve cage for cooperation with said seat to control the .passage of fluid through the coupling, said valve opening toward the reduced end of the chainher in the coupling, spaced lugs onsaid valve" adapted to engage with said annular s'houl-- der-to prevent the valve from interrupting the fiowofliquid through the'coupling in."

the event that the valve should become dis-f 0 engaged from the valve cage, and means for preventing the valve from inverting within the chamber.

5. A well drill pipe float coupling comprising an elongated cylindrical coupling adapted to be connected at its ends to aligned sections of drill pipe, a central Chit-1H ber formed centrally and longitudinally through the coupling, said chamber being reduced in diameter at one end forming an annular shoulder within the coupling, a threaded bore in the coupling of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the body portion of the, chamber therein, a sleeve threaded in said bore, said sleeve having a valve seat formed at its end adjacent the reduced end of the chamber, a bridge extending diametrically of the sleeve, a valve adapted to seat against said seat, a valve stem secured at one end to the valve and extending upwardly through the sleeve and guided through the bridge, a nut at the end of the valve stem, a compression spring between the nut and the bridge whereby the spring will normally maintain said; valve I seated, said valve opening toward the re lugs ada ted to en fmge said annular shoul duced end of the chamber, a projection 'exder sho d the va ve become disconnected tending axially from the valve member to from its stem and sleeve to prevent the valve 10' I become disconnected from its stem and the coupling.

sleeve, spaced lugs on the valve projectin prevent the latter from inverting should it from interrupting the flow of liquid through toward the reduced end of the coupling, sai REUBEN C. BAIQER. 

